Assumed knowledge is similar to that acquired in PUBH1361 – Principles and Practice of Work Health & Safety, ENVI1020 – Work Health & Safety Legal Systems and PUBH1384 – Critical Thinking and Decision Making, and at least one of:

PUBH1012 Occupational Ergonomics

PUBH1358 Work Hazards and Controls 1

PUBH1385 The Psychosocial Environment

Requires an understanding of specific OHS hazards, OHS law and risk management, as well as skill to investigate, analyse and synthesise OHS information, problems, concepts and theories, as well as critical thinking abilities.

Course Description

This course provides the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in applying OHS theory and practice within a workplace. This is a capstone project carried out in the final semester of the Graduate Diploma OHS.

With the assistance and approval from your organisation sponsor, you will implement an OHS intervention project in an organisation of your choice. This project may relate to a chemical, physical, psychosocial or organisational OHS issues appropriate to your organisation.

You will be guided by your RMIT supervisor in the design and implementation of your project and will have individual regular contact with your project supervisor.

Class work will develop meta-skills required of an OHS Professional, including:

consultation and building relationships

working within an organisational context

developing the business case for the intervention

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course will contribute to the following Program Learning Outcomes at AQF level 9:

1.1 You will demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of the OHS Body of Knowledge allowing you to reflect critically on OHS theory and professional practice.

1.2 You will demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods for the maintenance and expansion of your knowledge base

2.1 You will have skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise OHS information, problems, concepts and theories.

2.2 You will have skills to generate OHS solutions and evaluate their effectiveness.

3.1 You will be able to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice.

3.2 You will be able to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills with high level of personal autonomy and accountability.

3.3 You will be able to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills to plan and execute a substantial research-based project or capstone project.

4.1 You will have communication and research skills to interpret OHS issues and justify OHS decisions for specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Depending on the project chosen, on successful completion of this course you will be able to:

Identify and manage hazards in the work place by using a systematic approach to their identification, evaluation and control

Locate, evaluate, interpret and provide health and safety information appropriate to your work place issue

Work with stakeholders to develop a view (hypothesis of best explanation) as to the cause of a workplace issue and decide on actions required to resolve / improve this issue

Collect, analyse and use work place data in a systematic way with appropriate attention to ethical, legal and confidentiality constraints

Develop, implement, evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of interventions in the work place

Consult and communicate in a manner which recognises and makes appropriate use of the industrial framework and social context of the work place.

Overview of Learning Activities

Key concepts in relation to professional practice and meta-skills will be explored in face to face discussions during block attendance. Specific application of these concepts to your project will be discussed with your project supervisor at regular intervals.

The project within an organisation will build your capacity work independently in an OHS capacity, to locate and collect information and data, and to think critically and analytically. You will have to consult with stakeholders, give presentations, and prepare a written project report which will develop your communications skills.

You will receive feedback on your understanding and academic progress during regular discussion with your supervisor.

Module details are based on Kotter’s model of change management and its application within an organisation. Its practical application will be through the design of your project’s idea development and plan for completion.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

You will be directed to a range of texts, journal articles and other web based material that provide a current understanding of the technical knowledge in this area. Lectures and other materials will be available on myRMIT (Blackboard).

Overview of Assessment

Note that:

☒This course has no hurdle requirements.

☐ All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

Assessment is at AQF9 level.

This is an integrated project with continuous assessment through the semester. Assessment consists of: